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Tag: Al-Azhar University

  • Masyarakat Melayu/Islam Singapura Perlu Pimpinan Agama Kuat, Berwibawa

    Masyarakat Melayu/Islam Singapura Perlu Pimpinan Agama Kuat, Berwibawa

    KAHIRAH, MESIR: Masyarakat Melayu/Islam Singapura memerlukan kepimpinan keagamaan yang kuat dan berwibawa.

    Ini sedang Singapura berdepan dengan cabaran-cabaran ekonomi baru. Malah, masyarakat Melayu/Islam juga perlu menyesuaikan diri dengan keadaan baru untuk terus berkembang.

    Mutu dan nilai kepimpinan yang tulen jugalah yang akan memberi manfaat kepada masyarakat Melayu/Islam, di tengah-tengah sekitaran yang tidak menentu dan berubah-ubah.

    Demikian ditegaskan Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, kepada para pelajar Singapura yang baru tamat pengajian di Universiti Al-Azhar di Kahirah. Majlis konvokesyen (1 Nov) bagi 45 penuntut Singapura di ibu kota Mesir itu lebih istimewa, kerana buat pertama kalinya, diserikan dengan kehadiran Presiden Tony Tan Keng Yam, yang kini dalam rangka lawatan negara selama lima hari ke Mesir.

    Presiden Tony Tan Keng Yam bersama graduan Singapura, Aufa Muhammad Sidqee di majlis konvokesyen di Universiti Al-Azhar. (Gambar: MUIS)

    MANFAATKAN PEJABAT KERJAYA DAN KEBAJIKAN PELAJAR (SCWO)

    Dr Yaacob yang juga merupakan Menteri Perhubungan dan Penerangan menekankan, semangat ingin tahu dan terus menerus belajar merupakan satu lagi kualiti penting kepimpinan. Lantaran itu, beliau mengajak para graduan supaya melihat majlis konvokesyen itu sebagai “hanya satu tahap dalam perjalanan panjang untuk mempertingkatkan diri anda”.

    “Anda mesti secara konsisten mempertingkatkan diri anda dengan ilmu dan kemahiran-kemahiran yang relevan, untuk bergerak seiring dan berkembang maju dalam dunia yang sentiasa berubah,” ujar Dr Yaacob dalam ucapan tersebut.

    Beliau kemudian memberitahu para graduan universiti ulung itu, bahawa mereka boleh memanfaatkan sumber-sumber dari Pejabat Kerjaya dan Kebajikan Pelajar (SCWO) yang baru ditubuhkan. SCWO menawarkan peluang-peluang latihan kepada mahasiswa dan siswazah dalam usaha mempersiapkan mereka untuk ekonomi baru. SCWO bekerjasama dengan agensi-agensi awam dan swasta.

    FAHAMI KOMPLEKSITI MASYARAKAT & DAPATKAN ILMU DI LUAR DISIPLIN KEAGAMAAN

    Menyentuh mengenai Skim Pengiktirafan Asatizah (ARS), Dr Yaacob berkata MUIS merancang untuk menjalankan lebih banyak lagi program untuk para graduan Singapura dari universiti Islam luar negara. Program-program tersebut merupakan “satu keperluan” sebelum mereka didaftarkan ke dalam ARS, kongsi Dr Yaacob.

    Program tersebut, di mana para pesertanya didedahkan kepada pelbagai perspektif berhubung tradisi Islam dan konteksnya dengan kehidupan moden, “akan mempersiapkan anda untuk berjaya sebagai asatizah”, kata Dr Yaacob lagi.

    (Gambar-gambar: MUIS)

    Beliau yang juga Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Keselamatan Siber, menyeru para graduan Islam Singapura supaya “memahami kompleksiti masyarakat” dan mempunyai kemahiran berbeza-beza “di luar disiplin sains keagamaan”.

    Dr Yaacob berharap mereka juga akan mendewasa dengan menjadi “satu suara yang berkeyakinan untuk masyarakat progresif kita, untuk membimbing masyarakat supaya istiqamah dengan agama kita, dan menyumbang kepada pembinaan sebuah negara yang harmoni”.

    Selain Presiden Tony Tan, majlis konvokesyen itu turut dihadiri Timbalan Imam Besar Al Azhar, Dr Abbas Shoman, Duta Singapura ke Mesir, Encik S Premjith dan Timbalan Ketua Eksekutif MUIS, Dr Albakri Ahmad.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • 45 Singaporean Students Graduate From Al-Azhar University

    45 Singaporean Students Graduate From Al-Azhar University

    CAIRO: As religious extremist groups increasingly turn to social media to entice youths to join their ranks, young Singaporeans who graduated from the prominent Al-Azhar University in Egypt on Tuesday (Nov 1) said they see themselves as having a unique position to address and refute these extremist views.

    “As a graduate of Al-Azhar university, I feel that yes, I do have a role to play and in teaching, in educating the masses that Islam is not an extreme religion,” said class valedictorian Nur Diyana Zait, who said she planned to pursue a career in education after graduating, “to educate young children, to continue to inspire and also to empower women”.

    “I dream to spread the true teachings of Islam and give the best idea of Islam, and to share whatever I have learnt here,” added 25-year-old Aufa Muhammad Sidqee, who studied philosophy and Islamic Creed, and also plans to go into teaching once he returns to Singapore.

    Mr Aufa and Ms Diyana graduated on Tuesday night, in a ceremony where Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam, who is on a state visit to Egypt, was the guest of honour.

    There are 45 Singapore students graduating from Al-Azhar University this year – one of the centres of Islamic learning in the world, and described by some as the “Oxford of Islamic studies” – with degrees in Islamic law, theology or Arabic language and literature.

    Singaporean students at the graduation ceremony. (Photo: Kenneth Lim)

    “You now represent the next generation of leaders for the Muslim community,” Dr Tan told the students at a reception after the ceremony, where he wished them continued success in their endeavours.

    The President added that he was confident the students would “continue to promote racial and religious harmony in Singapore”, something he described as “precious and should be treasured.”

    Many of Singapore’s Muslim leaders graduated from Al Azhar, including former and current Muftis. The university accredits the certificates of four madrasahs in Singapore, and has awarded scholarships to Singaporean students over the past decade. While most Singaporean Al-Azhar graduates become religious teachers in madrasahs, others have joined non-governmental organisations or worked as translators in foreign embassies.

    “They (the graduating students) have an important role to play,” said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim, who also attended the graduation ceremony. “They will be operating in Singapore (and) they command a certain respect in our community.

    “They should use that respect wisely, to help guide the community towards the outcome that we want, which is a community that is inclusive and is well-integrated with the wider community.”

    PRESIDENT TAN MEETS RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL LEADERS FROM EGYPT

    On Monday, Dr Tan met the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al Tayeb, one of the most prominent figures in Sunni Islam. The two leaders discussed ways to counter religious extremism and the importance of promoting inter-faith dialogue – key tenets of the institution’s philosophy.

    The President also visited the Al-Azhar Observatory for Foreign Languages – which seeks to correct misconceptions of Islam that youths may have picked up online. The centre monitors extremist messages in nine languages, including English, Mandarin and Urdu, and refutes them using its own online platforms.

    Ambassador Abdel Rahman Moussa, Al-Azhar’s chairman of the Department of International Student Affairs, said the school’s main concern was to “teach the real Islam”.

    This, he said, would help explain to youths “the proper thoughts and proper ideas”, and how extremist ideologies are false and do not have any connection with Islam, Muslims and the Islamic cause.

    On Tuesday, Dr Tan also met Egypt Prime Minister Sherif Ismail at the Office of the Cabinet of Ministers in Cairo. The Prime Minister briefed the President on Egypt’s economic development plans and reform programmes, and said he welcomed investments from Singapore from companies in various sectors such as port and logistics, water desalination, as well as urban solutions.

    Dr Tan, who wraps up his state visit on Thursday, said during the meeting that there was scope to strengthen economic relations, as Singapore companies explore opportunities in Egypt.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com